Luxury Italian brand Maserati is on quite a roll of late, with its MC20 supercar, next-generation GranTurismo, and now the Grecale, Maserati’s contender in the popular mid-size premium SUV segment.
Maserati South Africa has unveiled the Maserati Grecale on local soil, making a statement of genuine Italian audacity, and bringing luxury and exceptional performance to the daily routine.
Named for the Grecale, a hot and fast north-easterly wind that blows from the Mediterranean to Europe as the seasons change, Maserati’s newest high-performance luxury urban utility vehicle, with best-in-class space, features, and technology, is the wind of change the Italian automaker needed to introduce its distinctive brand of bespoke motoring to a broader audience.
For Maserati South Africa, the Grecale also introduces a new season. It has a unique, contemporary design, a futuristic digital cockpit, a mix of high-power hybrid and V6 turbo petrol engines, and a level of luxury that can only come from Maserati.
INIMITABLE DESIGN
For the design of the Grecale, Maserati designers chose a design approach called ‘balance of opposites’.
Up front, the Grecale boasts Maserati’s trademark grille with floating Trident emblem in addition to the bonnet badge and striking triple side strakes. Further back on the C-pillar, there’s a smaller but no less notable Trident, whereas, at the rear, the Maserati name is spelt out in chrome-finished script.
Overall, classic design cues mix with modern materials such as carbon fibre, econyl (made from recycled ocean waste), leather and aluminium to create a striking, sculpted visual signature with the same design longevity as all other Maserati models, proving that form and function can coexist beautifully.
The Grecale enters the market for luxury urban utility vehicles with best-in-class interior space and boot capacity. It also adds unique features such as 40/20/40 folding seats and perfectly balanced weight distribution (52/48) between the front and rear.
BEST-IN-CLASS CONTINUED
Inside the cabin, Maserati designers have followed a philosophy of digital minimalism and continue the best-in-class theme with superior sound quality and extensive use of fine materials such as wood, carbon fibre, and leather.
Four digital screens replace many of the supplementary vehicle controls and, with the deletion of the traditional gear lever, create a striking and minimalist interior.
The digital screens include a digital instrument cluster, a full-colour head-up display, a stunning 12.3” central screen – the largest ever in a Maserati – and an 8.8” comfort display, which controls vehicle climate and comfort settings. Indeed, even the classic Maserati clock has been digitised and now acts as both a timepiece and the centre for the vehicle’s Alexa-enabled smart interface. With an exclusive backing track courtesy of Italian artist Dardust, it transforms into a veritable in-car concierge.
From the driver’s seat behind the immaculately designed Maserati steering wheel, the driver can control vehicle features through their preferred smartphone assistant with “Hey Maserati” voice commands. That means settings such as climate control, audio controls, and even complex vehicle functions can be changed without ever taking your eyes off the road.
Other features include adaptive ambient lighting, wireless charging, and a unique Maserati key (complete with a detachable strap) that can be worn as a luxury bracelet.
Inside, there also awaits another aural treat. Maserati has partnered with Sonus faber, the Italian Artisans of Sound, to create two specific sound systems for the Grecale. The system was uniquely engineered for the cabin of the Grecale and was tweaked after hundreds of hours of testing to have the distinctive Voice of Sonus (VoS) audio signature.
In its most luxurious form, the Sonus faber sound system has 21 speakers and uses 360-degree audio technology to create a truly immersive aural experience.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The new Grecale sets the standard for future performance-focused urban utility vehicles in South Africa.
Grecale customers can choose either a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid powertrain in the Grecale GT (221 kW at 5,750 rpm and 450 Nm between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm) and the Grecale Modena (243 kW 5,750 rpm and 450 between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm). Both models deliver more power and immediate torque than similar V6 engines from competitors.
For true performance enthusiasts, the Grecale Trofeo (seen here) is fitted with Maserati’s hand-crafted Nettuno dual-turbo V6 turbo engine (derived from the MC20) with an incredible 390 kW delivered at a peak of 6,500 rpm. The top speed on the Grecale Trofeo is a class-leading 285 km/h, and the zero to 100 km/h sprint is dispatched in an unequalled 3.8 seconds.
Each version of the Grecale has a unique launch colour, and a select few first buyers will have the privilege of buying their chosen Grecale as a numbered version of the limited Primaserie Launch Edition.
All models deliver power to all four wheels through a silky eight-speed automatic transmission.
Maserati engineers have extensively used high-tensile steel and composite materials to lower vehicle weight. The low weight, adaptive air suspension, perfect weight distribution, and the choice of five unique driving modes give the Grecale its best-in-class vehicle dynamics.
Aurally, the Grecale also sets new standards for luxury vehicles in its class.
All three versions of the Grecale – the GT, Modena, and Trofeo – feature a unique exhaust note that invites jealous stares and engages the driver’s heart. Configurable drive modes – Comfort, GT, Sport, Corsa (Trofeo only) and Off-Road – mean you can shift from the most user-friendly mood in the utmost comfort to the powerful emotions of extreme responsiveness. In all models, the exhaust note will deepen and become more urgent in the Sport driving mode, and in the Trofeo, this is further enhanced in Corsa mode.
LAST WORD
Starting from R1,799,000 for the GT, the Grecale’s every masterful touch is executed in classic Italian style, and combines elegantly to make driving the Grecale an exceptional experience. Every day.
| MASERATI GRECALE | ENGINE | POWER (kW @ r/min) | TORQUE (Nm @ r/min) | TOP SPEED (km/h) | 0-100 KM/H (seconds) | FUEL (l/100 km) | PRICE |
| Maserati Grecale GT | In-line 4-cyl; 1,995 cc hybrid turbo | 221 @ 5,750 | 450 @ 2,000-4,000 | 240 | 5.6 | 9.2 | R1,799,000 |
| Maserati Grecale Modena | In-line 4-cyl; 1,995 cc hybrid turbo | 243 @ 5,750 | 450 @ 2,000-5,000 | 240 | 5.3 | 9.3 | R2,320,000 |
| Maserati Grecale Trofeo | V6; 3,000 cc turbo | 390 @ 6,500 | 6,500 @ 3,000-5,500 | 285 | 3.8 | 11.2 | R2,920,000 |
Report by MASERATI SOUTH AFRICA & BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © MASERATI SOUTH AFRICA